Fuel admission device for internalcombustion engines



Oct. 31, 1944. A. SANDHOFER FUEL ADMISSION DEVICE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug. 25, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ARTHUR SANDHOFER S #W ATTORN Y Get. 31, 1944. SANDHQFER 2,361,502

FUEL ADMISSION DEVICE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug. 23, 1940 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2- INVENTEOR ARTHUR SANDHOFER ATTORN 3 Sheet eet 3 08L 1944- A. SANDHOFER FUEL ADM QJION DEVICE FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES Filed Aug. 25, 1940 i i W/ mv hw INVE OR ARTHUR SANDH R BY I M4. gr y, 3 Ma spires ADMISSION nnvrca ron cormus'rron ENGS Arthur Sandhofer, Cisco, Ten, easier to p. ii Petroleum Comp" a. cot-ration of Delaware Application August 23, 19%), S

, of the cylinder during the compression stroke of the piston by means of a fuel injector which includes a valve, a valve stem and a spring. The valve is opened through its cooperation with ,a rocker arm and a push rod or valve shaft, the latter being actuated by 'a geared connection to the crank end of the engine. v After the fuel has been introduced into the cylinder, the above mentioned spring tends to close the valve. The "timing" (opening and closing) of the valve is controlled by a cam which operates one end of the rocker arm at predetermined intervals to open and close the valve.

The present invention is an improvement over the invention disclosed in the copending patent application of Jim Barton, inventor, Serial No.

269,777; and contemplates the admission of fuel into the head end of an internal combustion engine cylinder by means of a device which comprises a gas valve, a valve stem, a spring, and a diaphragm or other form of movable partition, cooperatively arranged with respect to a plurality of control valves so that the gas valve is operated by the alternate pressure and vacuum created behind the piston during the expansion and compression strokes of the piston. A small bore conduit places mydevice in communication with the back end of the engine cyhnder; and, as the piston moves forward in each compression stroke, a partial vacuum is created behind the piston and also in my device. When the piston moves toward the back end of the cylinder on each exnsion stroke, a pressure is produced in the conduit, which pressure is utilized to" actuate the diaphragm to open the gas valve and admit fuel into the cylinder. I am able to accurately control the point in the engine cycle at which the fuel admission valve is. alternately opened and closed in order to obtain optimum fuel economy and operating results by employing a simple, dependable and trouble-free device instead of by means of the complicated troublesome mechanism that was used in the past. The practice of my invention eliminates the conventional rocker arm, push rod, cam and gear arrangement, and efiects a number of advantages which 2: m be readily art on a m of the accoxnping drawings understood by those skilled in the N0. 353,9fi1

(on. res-s2) in conjunction with the detailed description hereinafter presented.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a fuel admission device which is adapted 5 to increase the power delivered by internal combustion engines.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the character indicated which will efiectively and emciently control the admission I of fuel into an internal combustion engine so that the engine may be operated under various load conditions at economical fuel consumption.

A third object of my invention-is to provide a fuel admission device which i operable in a positive and dependable manner by alternate pressures and vacua created behind the piston of an internal combustion engine during the expansion and compression strokes of the piston.

This invention has for, a further object the provision of an internal combustion engine fuel admission device which is simple in design, rugged in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture. By virtue of the simplicity of my des 11 and the few moving parts that are subject to wear, the intenance and replacement costs are reduced to a zu 1m:- um.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a fuel admission device which is adapted to be readily substituted for other devices that are employed for the same purpose. con version may be quickly and inexmnsively accom plished at the place of use, thereby avoiding costly delays which would result it the entire engine had to be returned to the factory or trans- 35 ported to a workshop which is especially equipped to make the conversion. 7

These as well as additional objects and advantages will be apparent by reference to the following specidcation and annexed drawings which respectively describe and illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention,- and wherein Figure i he longitudinal cross section view through the center of an internal cobustion engine cylinder having my invention operatively 45 connected thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation view oi my device in quarter section;

. re 3 is a top plan view of the device trated in Figure 2, f": l 1

Figure 4 is a vertical cross section view fluid chamber with the cover plate omitted taken along line 45-6 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings and more rticularly'to Figure 1, I have denoted therein in: intel combustion one cyiinder it, which is inlet ports 22 and 23.

provided with the usual water-jacket H and is rigidly supported on an engine frame l2 by means of bolts i3. A piston 14 reciprocates within the cylinder and is connected to a piston rod I5 which passes through a packing gland IS in the back end of the cylinder. A conventional spark plug l1 and air starting valve I8 are indicated at the head end of the cylinder. Air for normally operating the engine is introduced from the outside into an air inlet passageway l3, passes through air inlet valves and chamber 2|, and thence is admitted into the cylinder by way of The products of combustion are emittedirom the cylinder by way of exhaust ports 24 and an exhaust outlet 25 communicating therewith.

A body member, generally indicated by reference numeral 26, includes a base member 21, a pair of supports 28, a valve actuating chamber 29 and a fluid chamber 30 having a cover plate 3|, all assembled into a unitary structure by any suitable means known in the art. Base member 21 embraces a fuel chamber 32 that is provided with a tapped fuel inlet-opening 33 for connection to-a source of fuelsupp y (not shown), and is securely mounted to the head end of the cylinder so that aseat 34 for a fuel valve 35 is substantially flush with the inner surface of the cylinder head, as shown in Figure 1. Valve 35 has a stem 36 slidable in a guide 31 in fuel compartment .32 and extends through a conventional type of packing unit 38 consisting of a packing nut 39, a follower ring 40 and packing material 4|. The upper extremity of valve stem 36 is threaded to engage with corresponding internal threads in a diaphragm plate 42. A spider 43 supports a compression spring 44 that is concentrically disposed with respect .to the valve stem for urging diaphragm plate 42 and valve stem 38 in an upward direction to normally maintain fuel valve 35 in closed position. As will be apparent from an inspection of Figure 2, compression spring 44 is also adapted to urge a diaphragm 45, which constitutes the lower wall of actuating chamber 29, in an upward direction to thereby seat the diaphragm against the lower end of a diaphragm seating orifice or conduit 45 which establishes communicationbetween valve actuating chamber 29 and fluid chamber 30;

Referring next to fluid chamber 30, it will be observed that a casting 41 forming the main part of this chamber has 'ab'ottomportion 48 that also serves as the top wall for valve actuating chamber 29. Integral with casing 41 is a manifold 49, illustrated in detail in Figure 3, which has a fluid passage 50 that is tapped at 5| for connection to a relatively small bore conduit 52 which communicates with the back end of the cylinder through chamber 2i and ports 22 and- 23 in the orderset forth. Passage 5!! communicates with the interior of chamber 30 through a threaded fitting 53 that is provided with a plurality of lateral ports 54, a central passage 55 and a second set of lateral ports 58. The flow of fluid from passage 50 into chamber 30 is conincluding a ball check ill and a compression spring which is disposed between the ball check and a retaining disc 5!, permits fluid to flow from passage 50 into chamber 30, but prevents fluid flow in the opposite direction. While this check valve arrangement is recommended for use with my invention, it is to be understood, that it is not essential to successful operationin practice.

Passage 50 also communicates with the interior of chamber 29 through a pair of passages 62 and 63 which interconnect with cross passages 64 and 65, respectively.- A needle valve 66 which is threadedly contained in manifold 49 is positioned to control the admission of fluid into passage 62 and is provided with sealing means consisting of a threaded plug 61 and packing material 88.

An adjusting screw 59 is packed oil with respect to manifold 49 through the cooperation of a threaded plug Ill and packing material ll. Ad-

justing screw 68 controls the movement of a ball check valve 12 which is utilized to prevent fluid in passage 50 from entering passage 83, but allows fluid in chamber 23 to flow through passages,

compression stroke of the piston. Starting valve i8 and fuel valve 35 are both closed, as indicated in the drawings;' and the fuel and air mixture Y previously admitted to the cylinder is compressed preparatory to firing. During this step in the operation, a partialvacuum is created in back of the piston, extendingirom the back end of the cylinder through air port 22, air chamber 2 I,- conduit 52 and lastly to passage 50 in manifold 43. This permits the withdrawal of fluid from chamber 29 through passages and 63 and passages 64 and 62. The efiect of this partial vacuum is to permit compression spring 44 to urge fuel valve 35 into completely closed position and move diaphragm 45 ,upwa'rdly, bringing it against the lower end of conduit 46, as illustrated in Figure 2.

As the piston moves in the opposite direction into the back end of the cylinder and transmits trolled by an adjustable needle valve 51 whichis this air under pressure through port 22, chamber 2i, conduit 52 and thence into passage 50. A portion of this air is bled by needle valve 56 through connecting passages 62 and 66 into actuating chamber 29. Another portion of this air under pressure is admitted through the various passages in fitting 58 into. fluid chamber 36. As soon as a suflicient: amount of air under pressure is introduced into chamber 29, it will move the diaphragm downwardly a very small distance; for example, a few thousandths of an inch. This will unseat the diaphragm from conduit 46, permitting fluid in chamber'30 to rush into chamber 29, thereby snapping valve 35 into open position against the action of compression spring 44. It will be apparent that the efiect of the fluid admitted into chamber 29, while the diaphragm is against conduit 48, is to serve as a "trigger and release the air in chamber'3ll at predetermined times during the engine cycle to urge fuel valve 35 into open position at the desired instant. By

properly adjusting needle valves es and El, the

fuel valve may be opened to admit fuel to the cylinder Just as the piston starts to move in its compression stroke. When an engine cylinder and piston arrangement of the character illustrated in Figure l is employed, it is of course desirable that the various control valves be adjusted to delay the admission offuel into the cylinder until after the exhaust ports are closed during the' compression stroke of the piston, thereby eliminating fuel waste which would otherwise occur. It is therefore obvious that the fuel valve may be opened at any predetermined instant during the engine cycle and thus introduce fuel into the cylinder at the most opportune time to obtain maximum benefits and economical operation.

From the foregoing it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of my instant invention will be readily comprehended by persons skilled in the art. It is to be clearly understood, however, that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appendedclaims. v

I claim:

1. A mechanical assemblage comprising an engine having a fuel injector valve, a working cylinder having a fluid conduit extended off therefrom, a piston reciprocable in the cylinder and periodically causing fluid compression and suction odic impulses of both kinds to store compressed fluid with which to impress force upon for its periodic opening.

2. A mechanical assemblage comprising an en-- gine having a fuel injector valve, a working cylinder having a fluid conduit extended ofl therefrom, a, piston reciprocable in the cylinder and periodically causing fluid compression and suction lm= pulses in said conduit, and means coupled to .the conduit responding automatically to said, periodic impulses of both kinds to store compressed fluid with which to impress force upon the valve for its periodic opening, said means including a housing, a fixed partition dividing the interior of the housing into a fluid chamber and a valve actuating chamber, a movable partition forming a wall of the actuating chamber and coacting with the valve to operate the same, and means including a plurality of passages communicating with the conduit and the chambers.

3. A mechanical assemblage comprising an engine having a fuel injector valve, a working cylinder having a fluid conduit extended ofl therefrom, a piston reciprocable in the cylinderland periodically pausing fluid compression and suction impulses in said conduit, and means coupled to the conduit responding automatically to said periodic impulses of both kinds to store compressed fluid with which to impress force upon the valve for its periodic opening, said means including a, housing, a fixed partition dividing the interior of the housing'into a fluid chamber and a valve actuating chamber, a movable partition forming a wall of the actuating chamber and coacting with the valve to operate the and the valve adapted to control the admission of fuel into the I cylinder, a fluid chamber, a valve actuating cham-- ber including a movable partition for cooperating with the valve to open the same, a port for establishing communication between the fluid chamber and the valve actuating chamber, me

for normally closing the port, said means responding to predetermined movement of the partition in one direction to open the port, and including a plurality of ages adapted to communlcate with the cylinder for introducing and withdrawing fluid under pressure into and from the chambers during each complete cycle of the engine.

5. In a device for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine having a working cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, the improvement comprising a normally closed fuel valve adapted to control the admission of fuel into the cylinder, a fluid chamber, a valve actuating chamberincluding a movable partition for cooperating with the valve to open the same, a port for establishing communication between the fluid chamber and the valve actuating chamber, means for normally closing the port, said means responding to predetermined movement of the partition in one direction to open the port, and means including a plurality of valve controlled passages adapted to communicate with the cylinder for introducing and withdrawing fluid under pressure into and from the chambers during each complete, cycle of the en ine.

6. In a device for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine having a working cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, the improvement comprising a fuel valve adapted to control the admission of fuel into the cylinder,

"means for normally maintaining the valve in closed position, a fluid chamber, a valve actuating chamber, a movable partition forming a wall .of the actuating chamber, said partition responding to fluid pressure for operating the valve against the action of said means, a port for establishing communication between the fluid chamber and the valve actuating chamber, meansfor normally closing the port, said last mentioned means responding to predetermined movement of the partition in one direction to open the port, and means including a plurality of passages adapted to communicate with the cylinder for introducing and withdrawing fluid under pressure into and from the chambers during each complete cycle of the engine.

' valve actuating compartment, a movable partition forming a wall of the actuating compartment and responding to fluid pressure for operating the valve against the action of said means, a port for establishing communication between the fluid compartment and the actuatingcompartment, means for normally closing the port, said last mentioned means responxw to predetermined movement of the partition one direction to open the port, and as a eluding a plurality of passages adapted to communicate with the cylinder for introducing and withdrawing fluid under pressure into and from the chambers during each complete cycle 01 the engine. 1

8. In a device for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine having a working cylinder and a piston reciprocable therein, the improvement comprising a fuel valve adapted to 'control the admission of fuel into the cylinder, means for normally maintaining the valve in closed position; a housing associated with the valve, a fixed partition dividing the interior of the housimg into a fluid compartment and a valve actuating compartment, a movable partition forming a wallof the actuating compartment and responding to fluid pressure for operating the valve against the action of said means,

ternal combustion engine having a cylinder, a

conduit establishing communication between the interior and the exterior of the cylinder, and a piston 'reciprocable in the cylinder, the improvement comprising a fuel valve adapted to control the admission of fuel into the cylinder, a fluid.

chamber. a valve actuating chamber including a movable partition for cooperating with the valve to actuatethe same, means for placing the fluid chamber in communication with the actuatingchamber, and separate means including a plurality oi valved passages adapted to communicate with the conduit for supplying and subsequently withdrawing fluid under pressure to and from the chamber during each complete cycle of the engine.

' 10. In a device for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine having a cylinder, a conduit establishing communication between the interior and the-exterior oi the cylinder, and a piston reciprocable in the cylinder, the improvement comprising a fuel valve adapted to control the admission of fuel into the cylinder, means for normally maintaining the valve in closed position, a housing associaed with the valve, fixed partition dividing the interior of the housing into afluid compartment and a valve actuating compartment, a movable partition forming a wall of the actuating compartment and responding to fluid pressure for actuating the valve against the action of said means, a port for establishing communication between the fluid compartment and the actuating compartment, and means including a plurality of valve 'controlled passages adapted to communicate with the conduit for introducing and withdrawing fluid under pressure into and from the compartments during each complete cycle of the engine.

ARTHUR 

